Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (publ)

David Sugirtharaj

Emma Wittenmark

Peter Alriksson

Mai-Anh Phan

Yusheng Liu

Olof Liberg

Oskar Drugge

Havish Koorapaty

Chunhui Zhang

Samy Touati

Jung-Fu Cheng

Iana Siomina

Gunnar Mildh

Johan Rune

Yi-Pin Eric Wang

Sorour Falahati

Stephen J Grant

Henning Wiemann

Amitav Mukherjee

Anders Wallén

Reem Karaki

Tomas Hedberg

Johan Axnäs

Louis Segura

Peter Hans Edlund

Suhail Hasan

Narendar Madhavan

Mikael Ziren

Paul Lee

Mikael Zirén

Andre Poulin

Olof Lidberg

A method for accessing a cellular communications network in unlicensed spectrum is provided. More specifically, the method is related to performing a Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) procedure prior to transmitting a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble for accessing a New Radio-Unlicensed (NR-U) network. A User Equipment (UE) first performs the LBT procedure. If the LBT procedure is successful, the UE then generates a punctured PRACH preamble and transmits the punctured PRACH preamble. By puncturing the PRACH preamble, it is possible to create a gap(s) for performing the LBT procedure in a way that is backward compatible with existing NR-U specification and does not reduce a number of random access occasions in a slot or a mini-slot. As a result, it is possible to transmit PRACH preambles in consecutive random access occasions, thus helping to increase spectrum utilization and reduce latency in the cellular communications network.

Method for accessing a cellular communications network in unlicensed spectrum

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for energy detection in unlicensed spectrum. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a radio node includes determining a maximum channel occupancy time (MCOT) value; and listen-before-talk (LBT) parameter settings, the MCOT value and/or the LBT parameter settings for one or more LBT parameters depending on an energy detection (ED) threshold value used to access a channel in an unlicensed spectrum; and performing a LBT procedure to gain access to the channel and a transmission on the channel according to the LBT parameter settings and the MCOT value. In one embodiment, a method in a network node includes configuring a wireless device with a MCOT value and LBT parameter settings, the MCOT value and/or LBT parameter settings depending on an ED threshold value used at the wireless device to access the channel.

Flexible energy detection in unlicensed spectrum

A network-based method allows a network to optimize its control of radio resource usage by directing connected and idle mode User Equipment (UEs) () to another network node, e.g. a neighbor cell, having a better duty cycle, or by configuring the UEs to use another frequency band served by the same network node or a different network node. Signaling its duty cycle budget to the UEs allows the UEs to optimize their idle mode operation by performing cell reselection to a network node which has a better duty cycle budget.

Mobility management with base station using duty cycles

New signaling is defined from wireless devices () to a wireless communication network, concerning the wireless devices' duty cycle statuses. This allows the network to optimize its control of the radio resource usage. Additionally, embodiments described herein provide new signalling from the network to wireless devices concerning the network's duty cycle status. This allows wireless devices () to optimize their idle mode operation, including decisions whether to request a connection setup or remain in idle mode. Embodiments described and claimed herein provide a set of simple methods for operating a cellular system in a duty cycle controlled radio frequency band.

Duty cycle aware scheduling for wireless networks

Methods, nodes and computer program products control radio channel deployment when using un-licensed carriers in a wireless communication network and control mobility and/or load balancing target selection when using un-licensed carriers. When performed in an access node, unlicensed carrier intrinsic cell channel load is determined in a cell served by the access node based on one or more predetermined channel load indicators and neighbor cell channel load information is obtained, from one or more neighboring access nodes. The neighbor cell channel load information includes unlicensed carrier channel load in respective cells based on the one or more predetermined channel load indicators. At least one channel deployment operation is initiated based on an outcome of one or more comparative operations including the determined unlicensed carrier intrinsic cell channel load and/or the obtained neighbor cell channel load information.

Mobility and load balancing target selection for unlicensed carriers

A network-based method allows a network to optimize its control of radio resource usage by directing connected and idle mode User Equipment (UEs) () to another network node, e.g. a neighbor cell, having a better duty cycle, or by configuring the UEs to use another frequency band served by the same network node or a different network node. Signaling its duty cycle budget to the UEs allows the UEs to optimize their idle mode operation by performing cell re-selection to a network node which has a better duty cycle budget.

A method performed by a wireless communication device for reducing handover delay, wherein the wireless communication device is arranged to operate in a cellular communication system and to operate in a cell using unlicensed spectrum. The method includes receiving a downlink, DL, signal from network node operating a neighbouring cell operating in the unlicensed spectrum, wherein the DL signal includes a discovery reference signal, DRS, subframe, storing data associated with the DRS subframe, receiving a handover command from a network node operating a serving cell where the neighbouring cell is a target cell, and performing a random access procedure for handover to the target cell. A device performing the method and a computer program for implementing the method are also disclosed.

Handover delay reduction operating in a cell using unlicensed spectrum

A method performed by a network node in a wireless communications system is disclosed. The method comprises generating a time-continuous baseband signal by applying a phase compensation that removes a physical resource block (PRB)-dependent phase rotation on a subcarrier. The method comprises converting the generated time-continuous baseband signal into a radio frequency signal. The method comprises transmitting the radio frequency signal to a wireless device over a radio interface.

NB-IoT-u baseband definition

An eNB and a method for use in a base station (eNB) for configuring a UE to be awake for a longer duration in order to detect eNB transmission after the end of initial Signalling.

Sleep handling for user equipment

A method of a network node for changing a first frequency of a first original cell, wherein one or more wireless communication devices are served by the original cell, and wherein the network node controls a plurality of other cells. The method comprises selecting one or more second frequency of an unlicensed spectrum that the network node should switch the original cell to, determining a second cell on the selected one or more second frequency as target cell and causing the target cell to maintain the same neighbor cell relations as the original cell. The method also comprises moving the one or more wireless communication devices from the original cell to the target cell, turning off the original cell when the one or more wireless communication devices have been moved from the original cell to the target cell and informing one or more neighboring network nodes of the frequency change to the one or more second frequency. Also disclosed is a computer program product, an arrangement and a network node.

Apparatus and method for cell frequency change procedure signal timing selection

A method () in a wireless device () comprises identifying () a configuration of a coordinated measurement occasion. The method comprises, during the coordinated measurement occasion (), performing () one or more measurements with respect to a plurality of reference signals transmitted from different cells (), in accordance with the identified configuration, wherein: each of the different cells is associated with at least one of the plurality of reference signals; and the configuration defines a common time interval and one or more common frequencies for the different cells to transmit their respective associated reference signal during the coordinated measurement occasion.

Measurements for frequency hopping systems

Handover delay reduction using unlicensed spectrum

According to an aspect, a wireless device identifies system frame numbers (SFNs) that are used for wireless transmissions that use a broadcast channel (BCH) transmission time interval (TTI), where frequency hopping cycles (FHCs) are not aligned with a cycle of the SFNs. The wireless device receives FH information indicating how the FHC used for wireless transmissions relates to the SFN cycle and identifies an SFN timing for the wireless transmissions based on the FH information.

SFN timing for frequency hopping systems

A method is arranged to be performed by a network node of a cellular communication system when operating according to a scheme where system information for enabling a wireless device to access a cell operated by the network node is broadcasted on an anchor channel. The method includes acquiring a first set of control information and a second set of control information to be provided to the wireless device, encoding the first set of control information to an information block, adapting the information block based on the second set of control information by selecting at least one of a plurality of partitions of the information block and broadcasting the adapted information block on the anchor channel. The selection provides information about the second set of control information. A method arranged to be performed by a wireless device of a cellular communication system is also provided.

Apparatuses and computer programs, and methods for network node and wireless device for efficiently providing information

A method implemented in a network node for transmitting data to a wireless device, wherein the data is time aligned with a periodic high priority transmission. The method includes defining a zone prior to the occasion of the periodic high priority transmission where data packets could be aligned, identifying suitable data packets to schedule in the zone prior to the periodic high priority transmission, performing a clear channel assessment (CCA), and transmitting the periodic high priority transmission and potentially the data packets. A related arrangement and computer program product is also described.

Growing community of inventors

Lund, Sweden

David Sugirtharaj